Calla lily plant named ‘Summer Sun’

ABSTRACT

‘Summer Sun’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a yellow-colored spathe that produces 5-20 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 35 cm in height, and the leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘SUMMER SUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Summer Sun’.

‘Summer Sun’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Red Sox’ (female parent, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,063) with Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Sunglow’ (maleparent, unpatented). ‘Summer Sun’ was selected in 2004 by the inventorin 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Summer Sun’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in September of 2007 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in a 14 cm pot at 12-14 weeks after planting in 't Zand, TheNetherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate thosegenerally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made toThe 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, except where general color terms of ordinary significance areused.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Summer Sun’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Yellow-colored spathe having a pink blush;    -   2. Green-colored leaves with numerous white-colored and linear        spots; and    -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Yellow Jacket BLZ’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,217, the upper surface spathe color of ‘YellowJacket BLZ’ is Yellow Group RHS 7A and the lower surface spathe color of‘Yellow Jacket BLZ’ is Yellow Group RHS 7B, whereas the upper and lowersurface spathe color of ‘Summer Sun’ varies between Yellow Group RHS 9Ato 9B.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Summer Sun’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri varieties ‘Red Sox’ and ‘Sunglow’.

TABLE 1 ‘Summer Sun’ Similarities Differences ‘Red Sox’ Plant heightSpathe color (Varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 182A to 184A)Number of inflorescences (1-4) Spathe shape (Between funnel and cupped)‘Sunglow’ Number of Spathe shape (Funnel) inflorescences Plant height(10-30 cm) Spathe color (Reddish-orange in color, RHS values unknown)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at12-14 weeks after planting, with the colors being as nearly true as ispossible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an overhead view of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a side view of the new variety

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT The Plant

-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—10-40 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—10-40 cm.        -   Diameter.—20-40 cm.-   Form: Erect.-   Number of inflorescences per tuber:    -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—5-7 inflorescences.        -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—6-12 inflorescences.        -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—7-20 inflorescences.-   Branches:    -   -   Character.—Many (from 3-8); like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 18,833.        -   Color.—Between Green Group RHS 137A and 137B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Width: 4.5-13 cm. Length: 12-24 cm.        -   Number per plant.—20-35.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A to Greyed-Green            Group RHS 189A, with transparent White Group RHS 155A and            N155A spots. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137C,            with transparent White Group RHS 155A and N155A spots.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS 137A to            Greyed-Green Group RHS 189A.        -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 137C            to 137D.        -   Surface quality.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Length: 7-25 cm. Diameter: 8 mm. Color: The base is            White Group RHS 155A, and the upper part is Yellow-Green            Group RHS 144A to 144B.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White.        -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

The Inflorescence and Seeds

-   Spathe:    -   -   Size.—Length (measured from base opening to tip): 4-8 cm.            Width: 3-6 cm. Height: 4-8 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 9A to            9B. Lower surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 9A to 9B.        -   Vein color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 9A to 9B.        -   Shape.—Cupped.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Texture.—Smooth (upper and lower surfaces).-   Spadix:    -   -   Size.—Length: 30-45 mm. Diameter: 3-8 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A and 17B.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Size.—Length: 10-35 cm. Diameter: 4-11 mm.        -   Color.—The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A            and 144B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.        -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.            Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant and similar to            ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282), but not quantifiable            due to minute pollen size. Color: Between White Group RHS            155A and 155B.        -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between            Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A and 17B.        -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group            RHS 155A and 155B.        -   Pistil.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1            mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group            RHS 13B and 13C.        -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:            Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow-Green            Group RHS 150C and 150D, bottom color is from White Group            RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.        -   Width.—3-6 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.        -   Amount.—Between 1-50.-   Fruit:    -   -   Amount.—Multiple berries produced.        -   Shape.—Irregular.        -   Color.—Varies between Green Group RHS N143A to 145C.

General

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to    date.-   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date.-   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance.-   Hardiness: Not hardy.-   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in    February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in    The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July. In general,    the time from planting to first flowering takes eight weeks.    However, tubers stored for a longer period before planting may    flower earlier—up to five weeks after planting.-   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant.-   Fragrance: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘SummerSun’ as herein described and illustrated.